“Sir, we really need to do something to boost morale. These guys are sitting around too much, with not a lot to do. Idle hands and idle minds are not a good combination here,” 1SG Miller said to Major Sundstrum.
“Yeah, I know, Top, but what do you suggest?” Major Sundstrum knew the first sergeant well enough to know that if the first sergeant raised a problem, he had a solution.
“Sir, I was thinking if we could get a stand-down day, we could have a big party with maybe some live music and some young ladies.”
“Top, where are you going to get a live band and young ladies for a party?”
“Sir, you get the stand-down and give me two aircraft to make a run to Saigon for alcohol and let me worry about the rest.”
Major Sundstrum knew right then that the first sergeant was up to something for the good of the unit. “I’ll see what I can do, Top.”
Three days later, Major Sundstrum tossed down the gauntlet. “Okay, Top, we have a stand-down coming a week from today. I gave you what you asked for, now make it happen. Should we invite Lobo and Robin Hoods?”
“If you want and they aren’t flying, why not?” 1SG Miller said with a smile. “I’ll also need a place for the band and girls to spend the night.”
“Yeah, we can fix them up in the officers’ club since we won’t be using it.”
A week later at morning formation, the 1SG notified all present that tomorrow would be a stand-down. The mess hall would be cooking outside, grilling steaks, hamburgers, hot dogs and all the trimmings along with beans and potato salad. He also informed everyone that there would be a company formation in the mess hall starting at 1900 hours that evening and it was mandatory. In addition, evening chow would be canceled until 1900. Of course questions were called out—mainly “Why?”—and Top answered as expected: “Because I told you so.”
After the formation, two flight crews were sent to the orderly room to receive a mission brief from the first sergeant. Those two crews left the orderly room so fast, everyone that saw their departure was wondering if some aircraft was in trouble someplace. Even more suspicions were raised when those aircraft returned that afternoon. A truck met each, and items were offloaded under canvas covers. The crews wouldn’t answer any questions, just smiled and walked off.
At the appointed time, everyone started drifting to the mess hall, but they couldn’t go in as two MPs stood in front of the closed doors.
“You can enter when the 1SG says you can enter,” they told anyone who asked.
At exactly 1900 hours, 1SG Miller opened the double doors to the mess hall and motioned the 120 members of the company to come in, plus the few from other units that could get off and join the festivities. Th
ere was dead silence due to shock. On the back wall opposite the steam and serving line was a slightly elevated stage with drums, microphone, three guitar players and a bass player, surrounded by six young ladies of Asian descent in very short minidresses and knee-high boots. In addition, six Caucasian women were also present, standing at the bar directly across from the entrance and dressed in similar fashion. A couple were recognized right away as they were Red Cross workers that had been at Lai Khe.
Standing at the microphone, 1SG Miller announced in his gravelly voice, “Gentlemen, come on in, get a drink and enjoy the night. Drinks are on the house tonight, as is the entertainment. Chow is being served, and it’s steak night. Tomorrow is a stand-down day, so you can drink tonight.”
And with that, the party started, and it lasted until midnight. A highlight of the entertainment was Reid dancing with a young lady. Reid was moving to the sound of the drums, doing some gyrations that just kept everyone in stitches, but he didn’t care. That boy loved to dance. He was putting on a regular floor show.
Unfortunately, unbeknownst to everyone except 1SG Miller, Major Sundstrum had been notified that his replacement would be coming in a couple of days. A new commander was joining the unit. Major Sundstrum was a well-liked and respected commander. He was a fighting commander in that he flew combat missions. He had been flight leader for the Cambodian Incursion and had flown the last mission out of Cambodia with 1LT Cory the day an SA-7 had taken down a Cobra. He would be missed, but he had a few more missions to fly.
Two days later, Major Sundstrum was flying in support of First of the Seventh Cav. Arriving at the log pad, Major Sundstrum rolled the throttle back to flight idle. Specialist Patterson, his crew chief, came over to the major’s door and opened it.
Major Sundstrum turned to look at him as Lieutenant O’Toole, the copilot, screamed, “No!” Something had hit the windshield with a splash, and it was covered in what appeared to be red clay. Out of instinct, Patterson ducked at the noise. Major Sundstrum couldn’t see out the forward windshield but didn’t need to. He realized that the windshield wasn’t covered in red clay but in blood and brain matter.
“Shut her down, Lieutenant,” he directed his copilot and began undoing his seat belt.
Patterson slowly stood up and stepped out from the open door that had shielded him. The Supply sergeant from Company B lay on the ground in front of the aircraft. He had walked down the slope right into the main rotor blade, which was difficult to see, especially if one wasn’t paying attention around the aircraft. Death had been instant when the rotor had hit him in the head. Major Sundstrum had flown his last mission.
Chapter 18
A New Sheriff
Major Adams was on his second tour as an aviator. He had demonstrated that he was a thoughtful, aggressive leader. He quickly got checked out on his orientation flight and began flying some missions, which, in the fall of 1970, were not that numerous as things were winding down rapidly in the III Corps area of operations. The First Air Cavalry Division had received a warning order that it would be departing Vietnam in January 1971 but that some of the aviation units would be staying in Vietnam in support of those units remaining and the ARVN units in the III Corps region.
After about three weeks in command, he decided to hold formal weekly command and staff meetings. In attendance at the first one was the company First Sergeant, company Executive officer, Operations officer, Maintenance officer and Supply officer as well as the Medical officer. As there was no conference room per se, the meeting was held in the major’s office.
“Okay, let’s get started. Let’s stay on point tonight, focusing on the status of the company, identifying any issues we have, to include shortages in personnel and equipment, and addressing maintenance issues and operational status. Once those items are covered, we can address other topics you feel need my or others’ attention. XO, why don’t you start us off?” Major Adams directed.
“Yes, sir. The major issue I’m working right now is security here at Lai Khe. With the departure of the First ID and just about every other US unit here, we need to consider establishing our own security for the airfield as well as the Chicken Coop. I’ve been talking to the other aviation units and the MP company and we’re putting together a security plan that’ll cover the aircraft and containment area. We should have something together by next week that we can brief you and the other commanders on,” Captain Wehr said. He had been company XO for some time and was approaching his DEROS date back to the States.
“Good. The MP company commander is in on this as well, correct?” the major asked.
“Yes, sir. In fact, he’s the one that approached me and the Lobo XO, and we dragged the Robin Hood XO into this as well,” Captain Wehr explained.